Wheeled accessory for suit cases

ABSTRACT

An accessory to make suitcases wheeled for manual propulsion. The base of an accessory unit - one near each end of the suitcase - is tied to the same by a strap which is adjustable by a buckle either on top or on the side of the suitcase. The bases receive slides underneath which carry the wheels, with latches to keep the slides in place. When these are unlatched and removed, the straps and bases remain with the suitcase; and the slides and wheels make a small package conveniently carried by the owner of the suitcase.

United States Patent 91 1111 3,889,966

Zeitlin June 17, 1975 [54] WHEELED ACCESSORY FOR SUIT CASES 3,633,7741/1972 Lee 280/47.13 R x 76 I t lfZ 'tl' 2814W.G l nven or gg g 60625regory St Primary ExammerKenneth H. Betts Assistant ExaminerMichael J.Forman [22] Filed: Nov. 26, 1973 [21 App]. No.: 418,810 [57] ABSTRACT Anaccessory to make suitcases wheeled for manual 52 U.S. Cl 280/47.13 R;190/18 A; 280/79.1 P P The base of eeeessery one near [51 Int. Cl. B62b1 10 each end of the Suitcase is tied the Same by a [58] Field of Search280/79.1, 47.13; 16/30; Strap which is adjustable by a buckle either topof 190/18 A 18 R on the side of the suitcase. The bases receive slidesunderneath which carry the wheels, with latches to [56] References Citedkeep the slides in place. When these are unlatched UNITED STATES PATENTSand removed, the straps and bases remain with the suitcase; and theslides and wheels make a small packg; :fi gg: 5 2 i age convenientlycarried by the owner of the suitcase. 320131807 12/1961 Winterhoff2230/79.] 5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures WHEELED ACCESSORY FOR SUIT CASESThis invention relates to appliances for the wheeled support of luggagewhile it is drawn by hand. Devices of this character have been madewhich are attached to the luggage permanently and usually projectseveral inches from the bottom of the luggage, taking up extra room orinterfering with other luggage stored under neath or on the side. Also,if attachments of this nature are made to be removed from the luggagewhen it is ready to be stored or shipped, the task of removing andreplacing them later usually requires mechanical skill or tools.Further, the removed parts, such as straps, wheels, holding plates,buckles, etc. make up a sizable and clumsy package which must be carriedby the owner of the suitcase during its transit.

In view of the above situation, one object of the present invention isto provide a wheeled accessory which is not a fastened attachment, buthas means to tie it temporarily to a suitcase for the convenience ofwheeling it manually.

A further object is to provide an accessory for the purpose mentionedwhich employs simple straps wrapped around the suitcase and secured byadjustable buckles to hold the accessory in the position of use for themanual propulsion of the suitcase.

A still further object is to design the accessory to leave onlyvirtually flat base plates and straps bound to the suitcase when it isto be stored or shipped, so that it will have no wheeling elementsprojecting from it to interfere with any other objects or luggage amongwhich the suitcase may be deposited.

Another object is to provide a set of wheeling units which are locked tothe suitcase when the latter is being moved by hand, but easilyunlatched from the same when the suitcase is to be stored or shipped,and kept in a handy pouch or pocket until again needed for ap plicationto the suitcase.

An important object is to construct the accessory along sturdy andcompact lines in order that it may serve efficiently while subject toshocks and rough handling.

A better understanding of the invention may be gained by reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view on asmall scale of a suitcase to which the units of the accessory have beenapplied, one near each end;

FIG. 2 is a full-sized bottom view of one unit;

FIG. 3 is an edge view of the upper part of FIG. 2, from the right-handside;

FIG. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. Sis a view of a modification similar to FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a duplicate of parts from FIG. 5, separated;

FIG. 7 is an edge view of the upper part of FIG. 5, from the right-handside; and

FIG. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

Referring specifically to the drawings, denotes a suitcase which is theusual piece of luggage to which the invention is applicable. For thispurpose the invention is designed as a removable accessory, so that thesuitcase may be used or stored without the accessory if desired. Theremovable feature is a strap 16 of fabric, leather or other suitablematerial which receives one end portion of the suitcase in the bottom,and is bound together on top of the suitcase by a suitable buckle (notshown). FIG. 1 shows two accessory units carried by the suitcase forwheeled movement; and the suitcase may be drawn either by pulling on itshandle or on a strap tied to the handle.

FIG. I shows that each accessory unit receives a base plate 17 at thebottom; and FIG. 2 shows a full-sized view of the base plate. The latterreceives a duplicate liner 18 over it. The bottom part of the bindingstrap 16 is lodged between the liner and the base plate as indicated inFIG. 3; and the liner and base plate are riveted together as shown at 19or welded to permanently secure the assembly of the liner and base plateto the strap.

For the first embodiment of the invention the base plate 17 is designedas a foundation or support for a slide 20. The latter is lodged endwisebetween terminal folds 17a of the base plate; and the base plate is madewith a back flange 1717 against which the slide seats in its normalposition, the flange being slightly higher than the level of the slideas shown on the left side in the lower portion of FIG. 3.

Caster wheel units 21 are applied to one slide near the ends fromunderneath, the base 21a of each unit being riveted at 21b or welded tothe slide. These units are shown at the left in FIG. 1. However, theunit at the right carries parallel wheels 22 which do not turn sidewise.Therefore, when the caster wheel units 21 are in front, they steer thesuitcase when it is drawn.

It is necessary to maintain the slide 20 in fixed relation to the baseplate 17 during the drawn movement of the suitcase. A spring latch 23 isprovided for this purpose. FIG. 2 shows that the latch is riveted at oneend as seen at 23a to the slide. The opposite end carries a pin 23bwhich extends through an aperture 20a in the slide into an opening inthe base plate 17, terminating with a raised tip 230. Constituted asdescribed, the latch locks the slide to the base plate. However, whenthe latch is flexed by raising its tip as indicated by dotted lines inFIG. 4 the latch may be used to draw the slide to a position such asindicated by finely-dotted lines in FIG. 2 and further to be free of thebase plate. This leaves the parts still carried under the suitcasealmost flat; and the suitcase may therefore be inserted among otherbaggage for storage or shipping without presenting casters or wheels asobstacles to its movement, or scuffing or otherwise injuring otherluggage underneath or on the side. The wheeled parts, removed from thesuitcase as just described, may be carried in a small pouch by the ownerof the suitcase while it is in storage or transit, and easily re'appliedto the suitcase when it is again to be drawn manually.

FIGS. 5 to 8 show a modified form of the invention. This form uses thebases 12a of the wheel units as slides and to operate in the samedirections as the slide 20. Thus, FIGS. 5 and 7 show that the outer endportions of the bases 21a are lodged in the terminal folds 17a, whilethe inner ends are lodged in guides 24 welded to the base plate 17. Atone side the bases 21a abut the back flange 17b; and they are so held bya long guard plate 25 at the other side. The guard plate is held to thebase plate by a latch mechanism 23' similiar to the one previouslydescribed for FIGS. 1-4. Thus, the removal of the wheeled feature thecasters or wheels and the guard plate may be procured as before. The removed parts appear as in FIG. 6; and they are so small that the suitcaseowner may keep them in a pocket while the suitcase is in storage ortransit. Or, after the wheel units have been withdrawn as described, theguard plate 25 may be reinserted in the base plate, so

that only the wheel units need be kept or carried while the suitcase isin storage or transit.

It is now apparent that the invention makes it possible for any personwho uses a wheeled suitcase because it is easily drawn from place toplace to also deposit the suitcase for storage or shipment without fearthat it will obstruct other luggage because of its projecting wheels,injure such luggage or be rejected for these reasons. Further, with eachaccessory unit entirely carried by a strap, it is a simple matter toattach two units to a suitcase when its manual propulsion is desired,and to slide off only the wheeled parts when the storage or shipment ofthe suitcase is desired. The suitcase is thus freed of undesirableprojections.

I claim:

1. A wheeled accessory for a suitcase comprising one accessory unitapplicable near each end of the suitcase, each unit comprising a strapfor binding the unit to the suitcase, a base plate attached to the outerside portion of the strap which is fitted over the under side of thesuitcase, a liner attached to the inner side of said portion of saidstrap thereby clamping said strap portion between the base plate and theliner, pendent wheel means slidably inserted onto each base plate, meanson said base plate to receive said wheel means in sliding engagement andresilient means to lock said wheel means on each base plate.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said wheel means comprises a slidebearing a pair of laterally spaced wheels, said locking means beingborne by said slide.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said receiving means on said baseplate comprises an inwardly directed terminal fold back of each end ofthe base plate to form a lateral guide and a depending back flangeextending along one side of said base plate between said lateral guides,the base plate further having a recess to receive said locking meanswhen said slide is inserted into said lateral guides and brought intoengagement with said back flange.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said wheel means comprises a pair ofslides, each slide bearing a single pendent wheel, said base platereceiving means comprising an inwardly directed terminal fold back ofeach end of the base plate to form a lateral guide, an additionalmatching guide on each end portion of said base plate spaced from andfaced toward the lateral guide on said base plate and a depending backflange extending along one side of said base between said lateralguides.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said slides are retained in saidguides by a guard plate fitted into said lateral guides and said lockingmeans are carried by said guard plate to hold said guard plate on saidbase plate by engagement with a recess in said base plate.

1. A wheeled accessory for a suitcase comprising one accessory unitapplicable near each end of the suitcase, each unit comprising a strapfor binding the unit to the suitcase, a base plate attached to the outerside portion of the strap which is fitted over the under side of thesuitcase, a liner attached to the inner side of said portion of saidstrap thereby clamping said strap portion between the base plate and theliner, pendent wheel means slidably inserted onto each base plate, meanson said base plate to receive said wheel means in sliding engagement andresilient means to lock said wheel means on each base plate.
 2. Thestructure of claim 1 wherein said wheel means comprises a slide bearinga pair of laterally spaced wheels, said locking means being borne bysaid slide.
 3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said receiving means onsaid base plate comprises an inwardly directed terminal fold back ofeach end of the base plate to form a lateral guide and a depending backflange extending along one side of said base plate between said lateralguides, the base plate further having a recess to receive said lockingmeans when said slide is inserted into said lateral guides and broughtinto engagement with said back flange.
 4. The structure of claim 1wherein said wheel means comprises a pair of slides, each slide bearinga single pendent wheel, said base plate receiving means comprising aninwardly directed terminal fold back of each end of the base plate toform a lateral guide, an additional matching guide on each end portionof said base plate spaced from and faced toward the lateral guide onsaid base plate and a depending back flange extending along one side ofsaid base between said lateral guides.
 5. The structure of claim 4wherein said slides are retained in said guides by a guard plate fittedinto said lateral guides and said locking means are carried by saidguard plate to hold said guard plate on said base plate by engagementwith a recess in said base plate.